Module integrated circuit

Abstract

The disclosure relates to apparatus and methods of photovoltaic or solar module design and fabrication. A photovoltaic (PV) module includes one or more photovoltaic cells mounted to a support, a first terminal connected to at least one of the one or more PV cells, a second terminal connected to at least one of the one or more PV cells, and a bypass line mounted to the support for bypassing the one or more PV cells. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A photovoltaic module, comprising:
 one or more photovoltaic (PV) cells mounted to a support;   a first terminal connected to at least one of the one or more PV cells;   a second terminal connected to at least one of the one or more PV cells; and   a bypass line mounted to the support, wherein the bypass line bypasses the one or more PV cells.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the one or more PV cells include two or more PV cells connected in series. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more cells include monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride, or copper indium selenide/sulfide. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the bypass line is laminated and integrated within the photovoltaic module between the support and a top layer. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more PV cells are laminated and integrated within the PV module between the support layer and a top layer. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the bypass line and the one or more PV cells are laminated and integrated within the PV module between the support layer and a top layer. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one structure laminated and integrated within the photovoltaic module between the support and a top layer, the at least one structure configured to provide protection for at least one electrical connections between one of the first and second terminals and at least one of the one or more PV cells. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one connection device connected to one of the first and second terminals, wherein the at least one connection device comprises a bipolar cable which is split into a bypass cable electrically connected to the bypass line and a cable electrically connected to at least one of the one or more PV cells. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one connection device connected to one of the first and second terminals, wherein the at least one connection device comprises a housing structure with a bipolar cable at one end, and at the other end, a bypass cable electrically connected to the bypass line and a cable electrically connected to at least one of the one or more PV cells. 
     
     
         10 . A photovoltaic (PV) module assembly, comprising:
 a first PV module including a first set of one or more PV cells mounted to a first support, a first terminal connected to at least one of the one or more PV cells in the first PV module, a second terminal connected to at least one of the one or more PV cells in the first PV module, and a first bypass line mounted to the first support bypassing the one or more PV cells in the first PV module; and   a second PV module connected in series with the first PV module, the second PV module including a second set of one or more PV cells mounted to a second support, a third terminal connected to at least one of the one or more PV cells in the second PV module, a fourth terminal connected to at least one of the one or more PV cells in the second PV module, and a second bypass line mounted to the second support bypassing the one or more PV cells in the second PV module;   wherein the second terminal of the first PV module is electrically connected to the third terminal of the second PV module, and wherein the first bypass line is electrically connected to the second bypass line.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the first bypass line is laminated and integrated within the first PV module between the first support and a first top layer, and the second bypass line is laminated and integrated within the second PV module between the second support and a second top layer. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one structure laminated and integrated within each of the first and second PV modules between the corresponding support and a corresponding top layer, the lat least one structure configured to provide protection for at least one electrical connections between one of the terminals and at least one of the one or more PV cells in the corresponding set. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one first connection device connected to one of the first and second terminals, wherein the at least one first connection device comprises a first bipolar cable which is split into a first bypass cable electrically connected to the first bypass line and a first cable electrically connected to at least one of the one or more PV cells in the first set; and at least one second connection device connected to one of the third and fourth terminals, wherein the at least one second connection device comprises a second bipolar cable which is split into a second bypass cable electrically connected to the second bypass line and a second cable electrically connected to at least one of the one or more PV cells in the second set. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one first connection device connected to one of the first and second terminals, wherein the at least one first connection device comprises a first housing structure with a first bipolar cable at one end, and at the other end, a first bypass cable electrically connected to the first bypass line and a first cable electrically connected to at least one of the one or more PV cells in the first set; and at least one second connection device connected to one of the third and fourth terminals, wherein the at least one second connection device comprises a second housing structure with a second bipolar cable at one end, and at the other end, a second bypass cable electrically connected to the second bypass line and a second cable electrically connected to at least one of the one or more PV cells in the second set. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the fourth terminal of the second PV module is electrically connected to the second bypass line.